The state Republican Party’s new chairman, Robert A. Maginn Jr., gave Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, $500, the maximum allowable under state law, during Patrick’s reelection campaign last year.

It was not the first contribution to a Democrat made by Maginn, the chief executive of the software company Jenzabar Inc. In 2009, he gave $2,400 to US Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, a frequent target of conservatives.

In an interview yesterday, Maginn - a fund-raiser for Republicans, including Mitt Romney - acknowledged both of the across-the-aisle contributions.

His donation to Patrick, he said, was motivated by the governor’s support for a charity on whose board Maginn serves. That charity, One Family Inc., helps formerly homeless families and was founded by former Reebok chief executive Paul Fireman. It was Fireman who invited Maginn to the Patrick fund-raiser, a party that featured singer John Legend.

“Those of us that run the charity were asked to come and support’’ Patrick, Maginn said yesterday, noting that the governor “was supportive of our charity.’’

“I do a lot of charity because as a follower of Jesus, I believe that’s what Jesus would want me to do,’’ he added.

All are welcome at all meetings of the Ward 3 Democratic Committee. This meeting will take place at the home of Dan Kunitz, whose wife Joan was a beloved 20-year member of the Ward 3 Dems. Joan passed away last year and we hold this meeting in tribute to her.